Each of our rescue residents here at Forever Amber Acres have beautiful stories of triumph. Read on to learn about the obstacles they have overcome, and how they’re helping others! All of our horses also have their own monthly support plan, so be sure to show your favorite some love by sponsoring them. All donations are tax-deductible! You can also visit our Sponsors page and read about some of our supporters!
Princess Passion
One of our hardest cases, Passion was rescued on April 10, 2009. 2 years old and suffering from worms, and undernourishment (nearly 200 lbs underweight), with most of her tail and mane, pulled off, she had been severely abused and neglected. We rescued her from a southern Ohio farm. Her previous owners beat her and kept her closed up in a small closet-sized, dark stall. Her stall was filthy, knee-high with manure and she had no water nor hay when we rescued her. Once rescued, her rehabilitation began. Attended by a volunteer, Passion took walks around the sanctuary. She began to assimilate into a herd for the first time, slowly learning to socialize with the other horses and people. By winter 2010, this once frightened little pony had not only learned to trust humans but became the first greeter of visitors to our farm! She is now the resident escape artist of FAA, opening gate locks to let the other horses out, stealing grooming brushes, cell phones, hoho’s, and opening up garbage pails. Though she continues to battle insulin resistance, Cushing’s Disease, arthritis, and thyroid imbalances, she thoroughly enjoys her time with her friends here. Now renamed Princess, she is a client favorite during Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Learning sessions. She teaches clients how to trust again, how to have their voices heard, and teaches others how to respect and set boundaries! Princess now receives PEMF treatments weekly to help her manage her pain. Princess is always ready for an equine activity. She loves hula hoops, tarps, a sip of your vanilla latte, and other fun activities. Princess is now our herd alpha mare.
Would you like to sponsor this spunky and determined girl? Choose a monthly donation option today!
Freedom (aka OTTB Crafty Cape)
Originally known as Crafty Cape during 7 years of his racing career, this gorgeous Kentucky-bred thoroughbred is our herd leader. His story with us began at Beulah Park Racetrack on April 14, 2012. Just nine days after running his final race there, he was abandoned. Left behind when the other horses began their racing season, a rescue network partner found him and contacted Michele to assist in Freedom’s rescue. Four days later, on April 18, 2012, Freedom joined our sanctuary. For the first time, he would be part of a herd. Life on a farm takes time, but Freedom’s demeanor is easy because he knows instinctively that he is safe here. After a year of rest from the track, and given time to acclimate to his new herd and his new life on the farm, Freedom learned he had free run of our 10-acre pasture and enjoys his home here! Freedom had begun training to carry experienced, advanced riders however after a coffin bone fracture in his foot and arthritis he comes up sore and no longer rides. He has a history of colic episodes and is on a special diet to help control that. Freedom is now a therapy horse here where he helps humans with their own recovery as an EAGALA Equine Assisted Therapy horse. Freedom knows how to teach clients to slow down, lower their heart rate, and not stress out – mindfulness is his specialty!
Keep Freedom happy and healthy by becoming one of his sponsors today!
Sage (aka OTTB Bodi’s Buddy)
Meet Bodi’s Buddy (renamed Sage), this beautiful California-bred boy was born in 1998. Sage is an off-the-track thoroughbred who has now made his way to a life of retirement at FAAAS (as of October 2016). Here he has become a vital part of our equine-assisted therapy team and a valuable and steady member of his herd here at the sanctuary. Our network of friends rescued him from the New Holland Auction kill pen in Pennsylvania late one Sunday evening in September 2016, before the meat man shipped him to slaughter. He was at the auction along with 5 other OTTB’S and he was the only one that didn’t have a home offer from other rescues. We couldn’t turn our backs on him. He has a previous shoulder injury, arthritis, anxiety, a history of colic, and an auto-immune skin issue that presents itself as recurrent dermatitis. To help him with anxiety and aches and pains, Sage receives Reiki Therapy along with supplements and like his herd mates receives Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) every few weeks. He’s known to encourage folks how to push through depression and overcome anxiety and how to release it. He shows others how when we push unpleasant stuff down and ignore dealing with it, how it will only resurface and with a vengeance later on. Sage is known in therapy as the Guardian of Secrets because he can help you uncover your secrets if and when you are ready.
Can you support Sage with a monthly donation today?
Doc (aka OTTB Mount Defiance)
In March of 2020, just as the pandemic was closing state lines, we welcomed home, Doc, who was an almost 7-year-old OTTB, born with a deformity called sway back. Because of this deformity, Doc’s racing career was short-lived and like far too many, he was on his way to a kill pen when he was rescued by our friends from The Race Fund. Doc arrived at the sanctuary in the early morning hours of March 25th, fairly quickly integrated into our herd, and prepared to enter into a very long, purposeful life here as part of our EAP treatment team. This gentle giant has the sweetest, most gentle demeanor and quickly became a sanctuary favorite, winning over even the likes of strong-willed Freedom. Our hearts were broken when we said goodbye to sweet Mama Shari the fall before; however, due to her death, we were able to keep the stall vacant until we were ready to receive Doc from the Virginia area. Doc made our sanctuary feel complete once again after Shari’s death. Doc loves to participate in therapy sessions, and enjoys grooming the other horses and our volunteers! He shows folks the importance of not judging by labeling appearances and not letting anger and fear get the best of you! Doc shows the importance of how to be a great friend and companion to others. He receives PEMF treatment for his sore back, and legs and to help ease his anxiety.
Would you support Doc with a monthly donation, please?
Chance
Chance is a senior, unraced thoroughbred who has experienced a lot of trauma and malnourishment in his past. We worked with a networking partner out of state to bring him here to safety. Chance has narcolepsy and neck/spinal pain. Due to Chance’s malnourishment and poor quality feed prior to rescue, he was vitamin E deficient for long lengths of time and it has caused a rare neurological and muscular condition called Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND), which is not reversible! However, here we have him on high doses of Vitamin E in hopes of slowing down progression. He is kept comfortable and is thriving living his best life here everyday!
Here Chance helps our clients manage anger and anxiety – showing them how to not allow those conditions to control them. Together he and the clients are learning how to trust again. He teaches others how being hypervigilant is not a healthy choice for recovery from trauma. Chance has truly been empowered since being a part of our FAA family! Chance is a super handsome and sweet boy who we are happy to have as a part of our equine therapy team and sanctuary. Chance is best buds with Freedom and Princess where they can all be found side by side. Chance also has some yoga skills!
Can you sponsor Chance by making a monthly donation today, please?
Sequoia (aka OTTB Speedy Minister)
Now renamed Sequoia, a symbol of longevity, power, strength, and energy – this Texas-bred, beautiful boy was born in 3/15/2003. He was located by our friends at the RaceFund while he was standing at an Oklahoma feedlot in February 2023 before shipping to slaughter. We promised to open up our forever home to him, where he will eventually join our treatment team helping heal veterans and others through our programs. He raced for three years and we’re unsure of where he’s been since getting off the track in 2009; however, it’s obvious he’s been neglected and un-kept for quite some time. He arrived after an extended quarantine at a facility in Oklahoma and he arrived in April 2023. We are anxiously awaiting his arrival! He will have many needs as a senior and donations of support will be vital to get him healthy!
Here Sequoia is known to be a super kind boy, with a sweet face. He’s truly found his position here and is no longer at the bottom of the pecking order…not bad for a senior boy! Sequoia loves to be groomed, but don’t smother him either – he’ll exercise his boundaries when necessary.
Can you help by supporting Sequoia?
Trooper (aka OTTB Buddy Bud)
Due to medical complications, Trooper completed a longer than expected quarantine in TN. He finally arrived in January of 2024! Trooper was born 5/19/12 and raced a lot during his career, only getting off the track in 2021. He has many old racing injuries in his legs, joints and his neck. His teeth were in horrible condition when he was rescued and he is missing some. He requires more frequent dental visits. He shows us that he has taken severe abuse to his head and face. Anxiety is something he exhibits at times, but we are learning how to help him through his needs to give him the space and care he needs. We are working on positive reinforcement, targeting and clicker training to help him understand that he can do things like “back up” or “lift his feet” or be groomed even, without being punished. Time and patience to learn to trust for possibly the first time in his life. Here he is apart of our herd, our family and we love this beautiful boy. He’s working his way up through the pecking order a bit and gaining confidence each day. He loves dinner time and his favorite buddies currently are Doc and Sequoia.
Can you help by supporting Trooper?